Jewish father and young son attacked near Milan by mob chanting ‘Free Palestine’

A Jewish father and his six-year-old son were targeted by a mob yesterday chanting “Free Palestine” and “Murderers” at a cafe in a rest area next to Milan. According to reports in Italian media, several people joined in the chants and the father was pushed to the floor and repeatedly kicked.

The two were both wearing a kippa and entered the cafe to use the restroom.

The incident began as one cashier yelled “Free Palestine” as the father and son were about to enter the restrooms, and other joined in the chants.

“I wasn’t afraid and responded,” the father said, according to La Repubblica daily. “I was angry. I’m not rude or violent, but when you must defend yourself, you must do it.”

At that point, the man started to film what was happening, and then accompanied his son to use the restroom.

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???????????????????? #Italie Lors d’une halte dans une station-service italienne sur la route des vacances, une famille juive ✡️ venue de France ???????? portant la kippa a été prise à partie par plusieurs clients italiens, dont le caissier de la station-service. Sous les cris de… pic.twitter.com/SfUshPxpq1

— Les Spectateurs (@SpectateursFr) July 28, 2025

When the father and son left the restroom, the father said that some 15 or 20 people were waiting for them, demanding that he delete the video. When he refused, he found himself on the floor — while a bystander took the child to a corner to protect him.

The video of the incident, widely circulating on social media, shows people chanting “Free Palestine” and “Murderers,” with one man yelling, “We are not in Gaza, we are in Italy.”

The police arrived after 10 minutes.

“My Italian son-in-law served as an interpreter,” the man said. “I heard the police say the word Netanyahu, but I was just shocked. Afterward, he explained to me that they said [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu should be told to stop the bombing. But I’m not Israeli, I’m French.”